BTS RM At APEC CEO Summit In Gyeongju: Key Moments

Gyeongju just had a full-on “Namjoon day.” BTS leader RM stepped into the Asia-Pacific’s biggest business forum—the APEC CEO Summit Korea 2025—and turned a room of global titans into his audience.

From the moment he arrived with HYBE chairman Bang SiHyuk to his rare front-row placement beside Korea’s top chaebol leaders, every second felt like a headline.

1. The Arrival: RM x Bang PD, the Power Duo

#p #xuhuong #tiktok #BTS RM Quá Bảnh quá Đẹp trai APEC CEO Summit | Namjoon. 💜💜💜💜🕺🔥😍🐨👏

♬ nhạc nền – BTSJIKOOK🐰🐥 – BTSJIKOOK🐰🐥

RM pulled up to the Gyeongju Arts Center with Bang SiHyuk in sleek, formal looks—an unmistakable “business mode” entrance that set the tone for the day. The pair attended the opening ceremony before moving through the venue to greet partners and guests.

2. The Power Row: Sitting With Korea’s Biggest Bosses

“Nice to meet you”: A heartfelt hug from the presidents… RM joins in | APEC Live / Yonhap News#HistoryMakerRM #RM

♬ Kings & Queens (MOTi Remix) – Ava Max

Inside the hall, RM took a front-row seat among South Korea’s most powerful executives—think SK, Samsung, Hyundai, LG, and Hanwha—underscoring just how cross-industry his influence has become.

Even before he spoke, the optics said it all: culture standing shoulder-to-shoulder with corporate leadership. (Multiple Korean outlets previewed his role at the summit and its significance.)

3. The HYBE Walkthrough: IP, Multi-Hub, Fan Tech

Kim Namjoon will be the keynote speaker at the “CEO Summit,” at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit today, on Oct 29 at 3:05 PM – 3:15PM KST..🇰🇷 #RM will deliver a 10-minute English speech on the topic of “Cultural and Creative Industries in the APEC Region and the Soft Power of K-Culture”👑🔥💜#kimnamjoon #bts #army #fypシ

♬ original sound – Army07💜💜 – Army07💜💜

Post-opening, RM and Bang PD toured HYBE’s promotional booth, which showcases the company’s global multi-hub strategy, music-IP-driven businesses, and next-gen fan-experience tech.

HYBE is also listed among the Diamond-tier sponsors of the summit—its highest level—signaling how seriously K-pop’s biggest company is leaning into B2B diplomacy.

4. The Moment: First-Ever K-Pop Keynote at APEC CEO Summit

#남준 #namjoon

♬ original sound – isabelle⁷

Then came the main event: RM’s keynote—a first for any K-Pop artist at the APEC CEO Summit—on “Cultural Creative Industries in the APEC Region and the Soft Power of K-Culture.”

Given his track record of globally resonant speeches (remember the UN?), expectations were sky-high—and rightly so.

5. Why It Matters

That’s our President! A great leader 🥹 #RM #namjoon #kimnamjoon #apec #bts

♬ Wild Flower (with youjeen) – RM

APEC CEO Summit isn’t your typical red carpet—it’s where heads of state, Fortune-level CEOs, and industry visionaries align on the region’s economic future.

RM taking the mic here places K-culture not just on stage, but at the table—as a strategic driver of soft power and creative economies.

6. X Is Losing It: RM Climbs Trends, ARMY Pride Everywhere

Ele tem um estilo de penteado só pra discursar😂🤌🏽

THE VOICE OF A GENERATION RM
RM LEADING THE FUTURE
APEC KEYNOTE SPEAKER RM #RMxAPEC #RMRepresentingKorea #AlwaysProudOfRM pic.twitter.com/0OqU2i9HfH

— Azul Indigo RM (Slow) (@AzulindigoRM) October 29, 2025

As soon as images and clips hit social feeds, X (formerly Twitter) lit up. Searches for “RM APEC” surged, with timelines packed by fancams, live photo threads, and proud “leader-nim in a suit” posts.

SO SO PROUD OF HIM!!!!

HISTORY MAKER RM
APEC KEYNOTE SPEAKER RM
KOREA CULTURAL BRIDGE RM#HistoryMakerRM #RMxAPEC#APEC2025 #APECCEOSummitxRM pic.twitter.com/rIZtyMcgAH

— Bangtan Streamers⁷ 🍝 (@Bangtan7_Stream) October 29, 2025

Hashtags and keywords tied to “FATHER OF K-POP” “Namjoon” “#AlwaysProudOfRM” and “RM LEADING THE FUTURE” dominated fan feeds, while ARMY voiced how meaningful it felt to see a pop icon speaking in a room of world leaders. It wasn’t just fangirling—it was soft-power pride in real time.